Paste scouring cleanser



undesirable properties.

PASTE SCOURING CLEANSER Philip Benjamin Dalton, Franklin Square, N .Y.,assignor to Colgate-Palmolive Company, Jersey City, N.J., a corporationof Delaware N Drawing; Application December 29, 1953 Serial No. 401,040

1 Claim. (Cl. 252-115) a This invention relates to certain improvementsin securing cleansers and particularly to a new variety of pastescouring cleanser differing from those now in common use and having asone of the basic ingredients a highly effective material that eliminatesmany of the undesirable characteristics of present day paste scouringcleansers and gives them several new advantages.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending applicationSerial No. 347,416, filed April 7, 1953, now abandoned.

There is a present need for paste type scouring cleansers in the markettoday because in certain operations such as the cleansing of hotelbathroom sinks, pullman car sinks and metal surfaces, etc., the use of apowder cleanser is often excluded regardless of its merit. To meet thatneed the present invention provides a new paste type scouring cleanserhaving a non-soap anionic synthetic deterge'nt'base which is superior infoaming, detergent and lime soap dispersion and/or rinsing properties toany paste type cleanser heretofore known.

One of the difiiculties encountered in preparing a paste type cleanseris to obtain the proper physical form without losing the desirableproperties of the detergent. More particularly, the water content andgelling properties must be adjusted so that upon packaging the productit will flow readily at elevated temperatures and set up firmly at roomtemperature. The technique usually employed in packaging paste soapcleansers involves pouring the product into a container at a temperatureno higher than 110 P. so as to avoid shrinkage and other This means thatthe product flows'readily at 110 F. and sets up firmly at roomtemperature. In preparing a paste type cleanser using a non-soap anionicsyntheticv detergent base an additional difiiculty is encountered whichis not present when preparing a soap base type paste cleanser. Anon-soap anionic synthetic detergent has no gelling properties. Thedifliculties encountered in obtaining the proper phys ical form of thepaste cleanser are therefore two-fold;

the first being the proper water content and the second the addition ofa suitable gelling agent. Having once obtained the proper physical formfor the paste cleanser,

should the product not be smooth, that is, should it be stringy orshort,an additionaldifficulty' is encountered in finding an agent which willgi e the product satisfactory consistencyv and appearance.

Broadly, the invention is concerned with a paste cleanser having anon-soap anionic synthetic detergent base; More particularly, theinvention is concerned with a paste cleanser composition comprising acleansing powder having a non-soap anionic synthetic detergent basecombinedwith a gelling agent, a lubricating agent, and 'water.

In making paste scouring cleanser, it has been customary to use soap;that is, alkali metal salts of soapforming fatty acids, as a basematerial or atleast as an essential ingredient. Bentonite, soda ash,water and/or States Patent 0 other ingredients are usually compoundedwith'the soap 1 2,892,795 Patented June 30, 1959 to make the final soappaste scouring cleanser. However, one disadvantage of using soap is thatit forms insoluble curds with calcium and magnesium both of which arecommonly present in water. With such curd formation the effectiveness ofthe soap detergent is materially reduced. This does not occur when anon-soap anionic synthetic detergent is used as a base ingredient in apaste type scouring cleanser.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a paste typescouring cleanser having 'as a base ingredient a non-soap anionicdetergent which will afford lime soap protection in water up to 300p.p.m. hardness, and which will be characterized by good foaming,detergent and rinsing properties.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent upon consideration of the following detailed description:

According to the present invention, it has been discovered that when adry cleansing powder comprising an abrasive, a non-soap anionicsynthetic detergent, and a water-soluble inorganic phosphate is combinedwith a gelling agent, a lubricant and water, a paste scouring cleanserresults which exhibits excellent foaming, detergent, rinsing and limesoap dispersion properties. More particularly, it has been discoveredthat when a cleansing powder comprising silex, a non-soap anionicsynthetic detergent and an alkali metal tripolyphosphate is combinedwith high titer soap, glycerin, and water, a paste scouring cleanserresults which is superior in foaming, detergent, rinsing and lime soapdispersion properties to the powder soap alone or any of the soap basepaste cleansers heretofore known.

In determining the proportions of each component of the paste cleanserwhich will produce the desired result it was found that the proportionof silex in the paste cleanser should be maintained preferably betweenabout 50 to 73%, that the total phosphate content should preferably bemaintained within a range of about 4 to 10% and that the non-soapanionic synthetic detergent content should preferably be within therange of about 2 to 10%. The range of the powdered cleansing agent inthe paste cleanser should be maintained within a range of about 65% toIt was found that the water content must be maintained between about 15to 30% of the composition in order to establish and maintain the properphysical characteristics thereof. This means that the product shall beflowable at higher temperatures and set up firmly at room temperature.It also means that the content of the gel ling agent, which is essentialsince a non-soap anionic synthetic detergent has no gelling properties,may be reduced to a minimum. For a high water content such as of theorder to 40 to 50%, more thickening or gelling agents would be needed,but this would be undesirable since it would reduced the amount of theeffective detergent.

It was found that a high titer soap was satisfactory as a gelling agent.When used in low concentration it thickened or gelled the formation tothe proper degree whether at room temperature or elevated temperatures.In addition to soap, various agents were investigated such as alkalimetal alginates especially sodium alginate (Keltex), tri-alkylolaminesalts of alginic acid especially a tri-isopropanolamine salt of alginicacid (Kelluble), various grades of carboxymethyl cellulose (e.g., alkalimetal salts, especially sodium), and a moss extract (Krimco). While mostof these materials exhibited thickening properties, all of them exceptsoap showed one important defeot. That is, the change in viscosity withthe change in temperature was not great enough in the concentrationinvestigated. When a suflicient amount of, say, sodium alginate was usedto produce a thick product at room to 60 C. and said high titer soapshould be present within a range of about 0.6% to 2.5% in thecomposition. More particularly, 1% of a 57.6 C. titer soap gave the bestresults.

In making up a paste scouring cleanser comprising powder cleanser, hightiter soap and water, it was found that although the use of a high titersoap gave a stable product which poured at elevated temperatures andgelled at room temperatures, the paste was somewhat stringy and short. Alubricant such as glycerin was therefore'added to give the paste producta better consistency and appearance, it being added to the product inrelatively small amounts. It was found that the addition of betweenapproximately 1 to 3% lubricant gave a smooth product of goodconsistency and appearance.

To illustrate the general process of preparing a com position of thistype, the water, glycerin and soap were mixed in a common type soapcrutcher, heated to between 160 and 206 F., and'the cleansing powder wasadded .to the solution over a period of about 1 to 15 minutes. 'By thismethod a minimum of foaming and air bubbles was produced in the mixture.The water-soap-glycerin ,was brought almost to a boil before adding thepowdered cleanser. By doing this no external heat was necessary duringmixing. The mixture was stirred to a smooth paste, usually no longerthan about 5 to 10 minutes being required although periods as high as 40minutes were successfully tried, and poured into a container at atemperature from 128 to 182 F. It was further found that should the soapbe prepared in situ, by which is meant adding caustic and a fatty acidto the mixture rather than the preformed soap itself, the product wassuperior to the product obtained by adding preformed soap directly tothe mixer. Although the process is preferably performed by adding apowdered cleanser to the mixture of glycerin, soap and water, it iswithin the purview of this invention to add the components of thepowdered cleanser individually to the mixture of the glycerin, soap andwater. It was found that an equally satisfactory paste cleanser was,obtained when the non-soap anionic synthetic detergent, silex andalkali metal tripolyphosphate such as sodium tripolyphosphate were addedto the mixture of glycerin, soap and water.

Having described the present invention in its broader aspects, moredetailed examples of the procedure and composition in accordancetherewith are now given in order to assist in a better understanding ofits various ramifications, it being understood that this is includedherein fror purpose of illustration rather than limitation. Percentagesare by weight throughout the specification and claims unless otherwiseindicated.

In Examples 1 to 6 the cleansing powder consists essentially of 87.2%silex, 6.2% commercial dodecyl benzene sulfonate and 6.2% sodiumtripolyphosphate. In Example 7 the cleansing powder is as thereinindicated.

In the preparation of this composition .6 pound of glycerin, /2 pound ofsoap, and 14 pounds of water were added to an Abbey mixer. This mixturewas then heated to 173 F. whereupon there was added to it over a periodof 1% minutes while being agitated 35 pounds of cleansing powder. Theaddition :of the powder resulted in a lowering of the bath temperatureto F. The overall composition was mixed for a period of five minutes andthen poured into a container at 144 F. A resulting analysis of the pasteshowed a specific gravity of 1.42 and a moisture content of 27.2%.

EXAMPLE 2 Percent Cleansing powder 75.05 Water 22.80 Glycerin 1.075 Soap(formed in situ) 1.075

In the preparation of this composition /2 pound of glycerin, 14 poundsof water, and the calculated amount of hydrogenated tallow fatty acidcomposition consisting of 3.0% myristic, 28% palmitic, 63% stearic and6.0% oleic acids and sodium hydroxide to make /2 pound of soap wereadded to an Abbey mixer. This mixture was then heated to 168 F.whereupon there was added to it over a period of 1 /2 minutes whilebeing agitated 35 pounds of the powdered cleanser. The addition of thepowder resulted in a lowering of the bath temperature to 152 F. Theover-all composition was then mixed for a period of five minutes andthen poured into a container at 138 F. A resultant analysis of the pasteshowed a specific gravity of 1.38 and a moisture content of 22.8%.

EXAMPLE 3 Percent Cleansing powder 78.03 Water 19.80 Glycerin 1.085 Soap(formed in situ) 1.085

In the preparation of this composition 3 pounds of glycerin, 78 poundsof water and the calculated amount of hydrogenated tallow fatty acidcomposition consisting of 3.0% myristic, 28% palmitic, 63% stearic and6.0% oleic acids and sodium hydroxide to make 3 pounds of soap wereadded to a modified ribbon type soap crutcher. This mixture was thenheated to 177 F. whereupon there was added to it over a period of 10minutes while being agitated 216 pounds of powdered cleanser. Theaddition of the powder resulted in a lowering of the bath temperature to148 F. The over-all composition was mixed for a period of 5 minutes andthen poured into a container at 146 F. A resultant analysis of the pasteshowed a specific gravity of 1.28 and a moisture content of 19.8%.

The same steps were followed in preparing this composition as were usedin Example 3 with the exception of the time in adding the powderedcleanser to the glycerin, soap and water mixture; the temperatures ofthe mixture at various stages and the time in mixing the over-allcomposition. In this example, 10 minutes were consumed in adding thepowdered cleanser. The glycerin, soap and water mixture was heated toF.; cooled to 146 F. upon addition of the powder; and poured at 142 F.The mixing time for the over-all composition was extended to 30 minutes.The resultant analysis of the paste showed a specific gravity of 1.46and a moisture content of 22.4%.

g PLE'S I Percent Cleansing-powder 72.0 Water f I 26.0 Glycerin I 7 1:0Soap (formed insitu) 1.0

The same steps were 'followedin preparing this composition as were usedin Example 4 with the exception o'f'the temperature. of the mixture atthe various stages. The glycerin,.soap.and water mixture was heated to172 "Fl; cooled to 143 F. upon addition of the powder; and poured at 139A resultant analysis of the paste showed a specific gravity offI1.47 andamoisture content The same steps 'weretfollowed in preparing thiscomposition as were usedninrExample 4,.with the exception of thetemperatures of the mixture :at various stages and the time in mixingthe over-all composition. The glycerin, soap and water mixture washeated to 173 F., cooled to 142 F- upon. additioncof the powder, andpoured at 140 F. Mixing. time for. the over-all composition was extendedto 40iaminu'tes. The resultant analysis of the The cleansing powder ofexample comprises the I :followingi-ingredientszi EXAMPLE 6 i 7 PercentCleansing, powder 76.54 Water a j 21.40 Glycerin 1103 Soap (formed insitu), 1.03

Percent Silex I v p 85.4 Sodiumtripoly'phosphate 3.99 Commercialdetergent mixture 10.57 Perfume 0.04

The commercial detergent mixture referred to above comprises as theprincipal ingredients the following:

Percent Sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate Sodium tripolyphosphate anddecomposition products thereof 40 Sodium silicate 7 Sodium sulfateBalance It also contains fractional percentages of sodiumcarboxymethyl-cellulose, tarnish inhibitor, preservative andfluoroescent dye.

The paste cleanser of this example was compounded as described above.

In order to evaluate the foam properties of the product of theinvention, a measured amount of the product is placed in a 500 ml.graduated cylinder with sufiicient water added to bring the volume to100 ml. A perforated piston is then placed in the cylinder and readingstaken of the foam height after every five strokes of the piston throughthe liquid. This test is satisfactory for measuring relative differencesin foaming power of different products.

The following three tables indicate the relative foaming powers of thepaste cleanser of this invention, the cleasing powder per se, and twowell known paste cleansers, A and B.

Table I indicates the relative foaming power in milli- '6liters-of'thecleansing powder per se and the paste scouring cleanser ofthis invention when 5 'to 30 piston strokes are appliedto a 500 ml.graduated cylinder containing 33 grams of one of the materials to whichhas been added suflicient Jersey City tap water at 120 F. to bring thevolume up to ml.

Table 1 Height of Height of 7 Powder Paste Number otPistonStrokesSolution Solution inml. in ml.

The foaming power of the paste compared favorably with that of thecleansing powder alone as can be seen from Table I.

Table II indicates the relative foaming power in milliliters of thepaste cleanser of this invention and two Wellknown paste cleansers, Aand B, when 5 to 60 piston strokes are applied to a 500 m1. graduatedcylinder containing 45.8 grams of one of. the materials to which hasbeen. added sufficient water at 150 ppm. hardness at vF. to bring thevolumeup to 100 ml.

- Table II Helght of Cleanser Height of Cleanser Solution Number ofPiston Strokes I B in mi.

7 Table III indicates the relative foaming power in milliliters of thepaste cleanser of this invention and the two well known cleansers, A andB, when 5 to 60 piston strokes are applied to a 500 ml. graduatedcylinder containing 20.8 grams of one of the materials to which has beenadded sufiicient water at 300 ppm. hardness at 120 F. to bring thevolume up to 100 ml.

Table III Height of Height of Height of Number of Piston StrokesCleanser Cleanser Paste I Solution Solution Solution A in mi. B in ml.in ml The foaming power of the paste cleanser of this invention provedto be far superior to that of the paste cleansers A and B.

To determine the detergency power of the product a ceramic tile platewas coated with a mixture of Oildag, linseed oil, Crisco and SkellySolve C, and heat treated at C. for a period of from 23 to 25 minutes.The tile was then washed with a sponge containing the prodnot, operatedby a mechanical Windshield wipei' devic'e. :The number of strokesnecessary to completely remove :th'esoilrwith the given product wasmeasured. The

paste product was 'found'to. be superior 'to the cleansing .-.powdertaken alone. i

Table IV v Paste Gleaming Cleanser I Test No. Powder of the presentinvention 1 7 V V l 7 .1141 117 2 135 121 Avera e 138 119 As will beapparent the smaller the number of strokes required the better thecleansing ability.

In a testmade to'determine the comparative lime soap dispersionproperties of the paste cleanser of this invention and paste cleansersnow on the market, ceramic tiles were washed with the product to betested in 300 p.p.m. hardwater.- The'plates were then rinsed twice with300 ppm. hardness water and st ained with methyl violet. The methylvioletsticks to any lime soap present and is therefore easily seen. Fromthis test it was apparent that no lime soap remained on the ceramic tilesurface when the paste cleanser of the present invention was usedalthough from A to a of the total area of the tile wasstained whenthei-tile-w'as washed with other commercially available pastecleansers.

In the above examples the cleansing powder is stated to consist ofsilex, dodecyl benzene sulfonate, and sodium =such as nonionicsgandalkyl aryl sulfonates. I

of this invention to usei'othe ralkyl aryl sulfonates having an alkylchain of from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, other non-soap. D ..5l/ fl fi d terent su I as qnll Joilifatty acid .monoglyceride, alkali ,rnetalsulfates, fatty alcohol sulfates orflsulfonates or m ixtur es ofdetergents In the above examples the. lubricant has been defined 'asglycerin; however, .it is within the purview of this "invention to'useother polyhydric alcohols or their ethers such as glycol, glycol ether,sorbitol or the like.

Summarizing, the present invention, is based upon the discovery of a newcomposition which comprises a cleansing powder comprising silex, anon-soap anionic synthetic detergenhand an alkali metaltr'ipolyphosphate combined with a. high titer soap, a polyhydric alcoholor ether thereof, and water to form a highly eflicient paste typescouring cleanser.

While the invention hasbe'endescribed in terms of .preferred embodimentsthereof, it "is" to be understood that considerable variations from thedetails disclosed might be made without departing from the true scopeand spirit of the invention; "Accordingly, the invention 'is to belimited only by the claim set forth hereinafter.

What is claimed is:

A paste scouring cleanser consisting essentially of about to 73% ofsilex, about 2% to 10% of an alkyl benzene sulfonate having an alkylchain of from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, about 4% to 10% of sodiumtripolyphosphate, about 0.6% to 2.5% of a high titer soap having .atiter .of about. 25.to C., about 1% t0 3% of glycerin, and about 15% to30% of water, the foregoing percentages being by weight 1 ReferencesCited inuthe fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,421,703 KamletJune 3, 1947 2,494,827 Munter Jan. 17, 1950 2,610,950 Morrisroe Sept.16, 1952 I FOREIGN PATENTS.

106,312 Australia Ian. 3, 1939 OTHER REFERENCES Soap and SanitaryChemicals, May 1950, pages 42, 43 and 98. i

